There's this terrific special on Carthage....and wouldn't luck have it, they're talking about Aeneas, Dido and the Aeneid as Augustan propaganda! And to think some of the lines I translated this week of Book VI were Dido's spurning of Aeneas in the underworld. What timing!

Got to listen to the Last Night of Proms tonight (praeteritio, you will not be disappointed!). Loved Hvorostovsky's beautiful rendition of 'Moscow Nights' in particular, though I was a bit miffed that they didn't play Handel's 'See the Conquering Hero Comes' in its entireity. Still, I got to hear 'Jerusalem' at the end, and the marvellous speech made by Mark Elder, the conductor.

And now, because I finally managed to sit down and watch 'em both...

If I didn't have a bit of a cold, I'd probably feel a bit more eloquent about this two-parter, which I thought was one of the better plot arcs this season. Excellent characterisation of the Doctor and supporting characters. I'm not so sure about Rose though. I found myself a bit fed up with her at the end of The Satan Pit. Still, she wasn't as bad here as she was in Tooth and Claw. Rather pleased that Ten is sticking with Nine's 'I don't do domestic' philosophy.

I have to say I loved the whole feel of the episodes too. It reminded me a bit of Firefly, especially the music. The Ood were excellent too, and I wouldn't mind seeing them turn up again in a future episode (though I don't know how much you could do with the concept). The CGI Satan looked amazing, and I was disappointed that it couldn't have been used further.

But yes, very enjoyable two-parter here. Which is good, because I heard that the next episode (Love and Monsters) is really, really terrible.

Claire Rushbrook's character - what a wasted opportunity! Here's a character essentially "left behind to die" by her colleagues, could Satan have found a more congenial home? But no, she gets back on board and everything's just fine. No red eyes, no nothing. Bah.

And yes, L&M is bloomin' awful. And misogynist. And just plain nasty to Whofans in general. A waste of the fine talents of Warren & Henderson.